Radioisotope Detection & Identification Devices (RIIDs) For Domestic Security Operations

This posting has been amended to include the Slides from the Industry Day. NO Additional action necessary. INTRODUCTION The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office's (CWMD) mission is to enable operational partners to prevent WMD use against the Homeland and promote readiness for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and health service threats. CWMD continually assesses, develops, and procures radiation detection equipment for deployment by Federal, State, Local, Territorial and Tribal agencies to enhance the nation's ability to detect and prevent terrorists and other threat actors use of radiological and nuclear materials. CWMD has led Research & Development (R&D) efforts to develop Thallium Bromide (TlBr) gamma detection capability as a viable technology over the past 14 years. Recent findings demonstrate the viability of incorporating TlBr as a method to achieve CWMD's goal of significantly improving the technical performance of current Rad/Nuc detectors while significantly lowering costs. CWMD will host an all-day Industry Day engagement on-line using Microsoft TEAMS on October 6, 2021 to share the current state of the TlBr technology research and the CWMD vision for future TlBr detection equipment. Also, on October 7 and 8, 2021, follow-up one-on-one session opportunities will be offered to start to gather feedback as to how to meet the CWMD technology transfer goals described below. CWMD foresees a need for approximately 2,000 next-generation Radiological Isotope Identification Devices (RIIDs) over 5 years in support of Government users. CWMD is interested in collaborating with industry in this CWMD effort to demonstrate viability of TIBr technology as a suitable gamma detector for next-generation RIIDs. RIIDs are handheld devices used in primary and secondary security screening procedures to find rad/nuc material in a small area. Examples of small area environments include cars, trucks, small vessels, train engines, and small or medium sized aircraft. Secondary screening is a purposeful search to localize, identify, and classify rad/nuc materials detected during a primary screening. Next generation RIIDs must increase the probability of detecting and identifying radiation sources while being relatively light-weight, compact, easy to use, rugged, mobile, and of sufficiently low cost to support widespread deployment.